17 Mar 2020

Covid-19: 'You work for five hours, you get $15' - taxi drivers

From Checkpoint, 5:23 pm on 17 March 2020

Businesses in Wellington are welcoming the support package. Iko Iko gift shop on Cuba street has seen a sharp decline in foot traffic over the past couple of days. Co-owner Rose Bollinger told our reporter Logan Church she is glad help is now available.

And up the road Mexican restaurant Viva Mexico Left Bank is empty - not a single person came for lunch. Its owner Luis Guajardo said he is worried this is the new norm his business - it employs six full time staff and two part-time staff.

Wage subsidies will be available for hard hit businesses - employers will be paid $585 per week for full-time staff, and $350 for part-time staff.

Paul Fuimaono runs Toru Tours, an Auckland tour company - he told our reporter Nita Blake-Persen meeting the threshold of a 30 percent drop in business won't be hard.

In Auckland, taxi drivers at the airport told our reporter Katie Doyle no tourists meant no certainty.